Caldecote Community Primary School Nursery Review

Open shelving, woodworking and time to follow a child's curiosity give Caldecote's nursery its character. Play shapes the learning, with adults joining children's investigations and adding teaching when an opportunity arises. This is the nursery within Caldecote Community Primary School in Braunstone, Leicester, forming part of its early years provision.

In the Moment Planning is the guiding approach. Adults observe what interests a child, assess the learning taking place and respond there and then. Alongside this come planned teaching and guided activities. Children have time to pursue an idea; adults help them take it further.

The day starts with a brief activity session, usually centred on literacy, movement or mathematics. Activities recur across the week, giving children opportunities to practise. Whole-class carpet teaching covers mathematics, phonics and literacy, while smaller adult-led groups provide extra time for children needing additional help.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together physical development, communication and emotional and social development, alongside early mathematics, literacy, creative expression and discovering the world. In parent terms, learning to explain an idea and manage a feeling matters alongside learning about numbers and sounds.

Workshop-style learning spaces have resources on open shelves, allowing children to choose materials and decide how to use them. Indoor and outdoor play sit alongside taught skills such as sewing, cooking and woodworking. Resources change with children's interests and the seasons. Uninterrupted stretches of play give an investigation time to develop, rather than requiring children to abandon it for the next activity.

In April 2025, Ofsted identified early years language teaching as a strength: adults used purposeful conversations to develop children's communication. That gives a clear educational purpose to the talk accompanying play.

Parents also contribute directly to assessment. Each child has a focus week once per term, three times a year. Beforehand, a camera goes home with a request for photographs and family observations. This brings children's interests and experiences outside nursery into the staff's understanding of their learning. The Leuvens Scale also helps staff consider children's involvement and wellbeing.

An assistant special educational needs coordinator has responsibility for early years. Support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing its effect, with parents involved throughout. Families therefore have a route for discussing concerns and checking whether support is working.

Breakfast Club includes breakfast alongside crafts, games and music, giving children using the club time to eat and play before nursery.

Attending Caldecote's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application to the local authority through the School Admissions Website. A letter alerts families when they need to apply; nursery attendance does not replace that application.

When children move to a new teacher, the special educational needs coordinator passes on information about their needs so the teacher understands the support required. This helps maintain continuity of support, separately from the decision about allocating places.

The full-time nursery timetable has a morning period from 8.45am to 11.30am and an afternoon period from 12.30pm to 2.55pm. Families need to plan around both periods.

Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am from Monday to Friday, with last entry at 8:30am. It accepts children aged 3–11, making it an option for nursery families needing an earlier start.

To enquire about a nursery place, contact the school office and provide your child's details. Families receive a letter about whether a place is available. The office can be reached on 0116 2824482 or at office@caldecote.leicester.sch.uk.